John Hetherington

- 1857

• Name	John Hetherington
  Gender	Male
  Died	25 Mar 1857	Appin, NSW, Australia
  Person ID	I5781	My Genealogy
  Last Modified	26 Dec 2020

  
  

  Father	John Hetherington,   d. 2 Sep 1872, Dapto, NSW, Australia
  Mother	Eleanor Hamilton,   b. 1801, Kilskeery, Tyrone, Ireland ,   d. 10 Feb 1868, Dapto, NSW, Australia  (Age 67 years)
  Family ID	F1976	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Jane Gray
  Married	8 Jul 1839	Magheraculmoney, Fermanagh, Ireland
  	See: http://www.igp-web.com/IGPArchives/ire/fermanagh/churches/tubrid-mar.htm John from Kilskeery and Jane from Bracklin, Drumkeeran
  Last Modified	26 Dec 2020
  Family ID	F1979	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954) Sat 28 Mar 1857 Page 5 APPIN. [FROM A CORRESPONDENT.] THURSDAY, 26th March. — This day Dr. Bell, coroner for the district of Campbelltown, Liverpool, and Appin, held an inquest at the Pass Creek, about four miles from this town, on the body of John Hetherington, late an inkeeper at Wollongong, and who was drowned on the previous evening, together with an old man named Gorman, while attempting to cross the creek in a state of flood, but at the usual crossing place. It seemed Mr. Hetherington left Wollongong in company with a young man named Richard Graham, intending to go to Berrima Races, and when near to the Pass Creek, they were joined by the old man Gorman ; it was near 6 p.m. when they arrived at the Creek, but though the water was not very high, it was rushing in a perfect torrent, and without waiting to calculate the danger, Mr. Hetherington and old German, rode in together at the usual crossing place, but had not got a yard from the side when they were swept away in the current, horses and all. Young Graham saw them struggle, and instantly plunged in to render what assistance he could to Mr. Hetherington, who he saw had freed himself from his horse, and caught hold of a branch, but the current carried Graham down some way, and when he reached the place he had last seen Mr. Hetherington, he had disappeared, nor could he find the slightest traces of either of the bodies. The horses managed to get to the other side uninjured. At daylight, this morning, several people assembled at the Creek for the purpose of searching for the bodies, and, after some two or three hours, the body of Mr. Hetherington was found, about 100 yards from the crossing place, lying on its face with the right arm out of water ; Gorman's body had not been discovered up to Friday morning. The jury after hearing evidence to the foregoing effect, returned a verdict of " Accidental drowning, while attempting to cross the Pass Creek in a state of flood." And appended as a rider the following — "We desire to record our regret that such a dangerous ravine should not be rendered more safe, and easy of transit ; the way being one of considerable thoroughfare, and the risk and frequency of accidents being so incrcaeed by the suddenness with which this mountain torrent rises, and the velocity with which it rushes in time of flood ; and we would respectfully request the coroner would bring the matter under the immediate notice of the Government." [FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.] On Monday evening, Mr. Hetherington, innkeeper, of Wollongong, an old inhabitant of Appin, John Gorman, and another person, in company with our mailman, left Wollongong to pass this and proceed further. On their arrival at the river, between East Bargo and (this place) Appin, they found, from the late rain, that the water was deep. Mr. Hetherington and Gorman considered it possible to get over, and unfortunately made an attempt, the mailman and other persons remaining on the East Bargo side to see the success of their endeavour. They were quickly taken down the current, and appeared to be in danger. One who remained on the East Bargo side, seeing the danger of his fellow-travellers, with courage and humanity, took off his clothes, and swam, with the intention and hope of rendering assistance, but the current being so strong, he was not able to render help, and I regret to state they were both drowned. The body of Mr. Hetherington, who has left a wife and family of children, with numerous friends, to deplore their loss, was found on Thursday, an inquest held, and removed to the Bourke Hotel, Appin, from which he will be removed to Wollongong. Search has been made, and will be continued, for Gorman. The danger attendant on this crossing-place has for many years past been known and feared ; application, by memorial and petitions, have been made to the Government, praying that any sum might be allowed to make the pass safe, or to improve the place so that danger might be avoided, but we (the inhabitants of Appin) have yet to regret that our prayer has not been attended to, and the delay has been the cause of the late melancholy accident.